With its twinkly lights and rustic, flower-filled sidewalk carts, Tahoe’s Truckee has never looked more charming. Long under-construction sidewalks are nearing completion, and two new restaurants are wooing locals and visitors alike with visions of craft cocktails, raclette appetizers and other sensational dishes.

Truckee Tavern & Grill

It’s hard to resist any place whose cocktail program is inspired by Truckee’s bootlegger past. That those gin and whiskey cocktails are served over hand-cut ice — cut with a chainsaw, yet! — in a sleek, rustic-chic, second floor dining room just makes everything better. The cocktail ($11) menu changes daily, but the sips we sampled were top notch, from the Negroni-inspired Ice Man’s Demise — spiked with Douglas fir tincture — to the Goodbye Pro-Hi, a beautiful, slightly floral balance of gin, vodka, vermouth, orange flower water and grapefruit bitters.

The two-year-old Truckee Tavern and Grill combines rustic-chic decorative touches with a nod to Truckee’s bootlegger past in the form of a gin and whiskey-centric cocktail menu. (Eric Russell Photography )

The food menu, which changes daily, celebrates local, seasonal and mountain-inspired fare. It’s the work of executive chef Josh Dinsmore; the tavern’s opening sous chef took over the top toque in September. Don’t miss the melty raclette ($11), a quintessential Alpine starter that arrives in a tiny cast-iron pan accompanied by housemade mustard and grilled bread. And whichever entree you choose — grilled chicken ($19), perhaps, or a sausage trio ($16) — do not miss the sides, especially the variations on a mac-and-cheese theme ($7 for a half order, $11 for a full). We are still talking about the red pepper version drizzled with honey.

Old Town Tap

Billed as a “contemporary pizzeria,” this charming new spot offers creative, delicious fare and craft brews in the same historic brick building that houses Marg’s Taco Bistro. Bay Area ex-pats Marlena John and Luke Bill opened the new place in May with a menu that showcases all sorts of tastiness, from a Bacon & Eggs Pizza ($14) with mozzarella and house-cured pancetta, topped with an over-easy egg and arugula, to Pork & Padron ($15) and Shrimp Chorizo ($14) versions.

Truckee’s five-month-old Old Town Tap features modern pizzas, craft brews and creative cocktails. (Photo: Jackie Burrell/Bay Area News Group)

Just two of you? Split a pizza and something off the “Share” menu ($8-$15), such as the charcuterie or cheese board or, if you’re there in the fall or summer, the seasonal heirloom tomato board. Pair those noshes with a beer or wine on tap, or something fun from the cocktail menu.

Jackie Burrell is the editor and senior writer for the Mercury News and East Bay Times' Eat Drink Play section, which explores the West Coast's food, wine, cocktail and travel scene each week. An award-winning writer, Burrell joined the Bay Area News Group staff in 2000.